Hippasa pantherina Pocock, 1899

SANKARAN, PRADEEP M. & CALEB, JOHN T. D., 2023, Notes on Indian wolf spiders: II. Genus Hippasa Simon, 1885 (Araneae: Lycosidae Hippasinae), Zootaxa 5230 (2), pp. 101-152 : 135-140

Hippasa pantherina Pocock, 1899 stat. rev.

Figs 1E , 27–29 , 41

Hippasa pantherina Pocock, 1899: 752 (♀); 1900: 250 (♂). Gravely 1924: 594, fig. 1F (♀).

Hippasa greenalliae Simon 1885: 31 , plate X, fig. 6 (♂ ♀); 1889: 378. Karsch 1892: 296 (♂). Tikader & Malhotra 1980: 277, figs 72–76 (♂ ♀). Barrion & Litsinger 1994: 307, figs 1588–1590 (♂). Gajbe 2004: 4; 2007: 499. Rao et al. 2005: 27. Biswas & Raychaudhuri 2007: 244, figs 1–7 (♂ ♀; lapsus). Caleb 2020: 15725, fig. 11A–G, 26I (♀). All misidentified.

Type material. Syntypes ♂ and ♀ from INDIA: Kerala: Trivandrum, date unknown, H. Ferguson leg., repository NHM, not examined (illustrations of the female genitalia given in Tikader & Malhotra (1980: figs 73–74), who examined the types of H. pantherina , are diagnostic and were used for comparative purposes) .

Topotype material examined. INDIA: Kerala: Trivandrum: Ponmudi: way to Varayadumotta , 13 December 2014, M.S. Pradeep leg., from web on roadside mud embankment, by hand: 2 ♀♀, 1 subadult ♀, 1 juvenile ( ADSH59501 ); Ponmudi (8°45'35.79''N, 77°7'00.75''E; 920 m alt.), 5 December 2019, M.S. Pradeep &A. V . Mathew leg., from web on roadside mud embankment, by hand: 4 ♀♀, 1 juvenile ( ADSH59503 ) .

Other material examined. INDIA: Kerala: Palakkad: Parambikulam Tiger Reserve: Sunkam Range , 26August 2015, Jimmy Paul leg., from web on roadside mud embankment, by hand: 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ ( ADSH59502 ) . INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Salem: Yercaud (11°46'N, 78°12'E; 1420 m alt.), 28 May 2019, M.S. Pradeep & A. V . Mathew leg., from web on roadside mud embankment, by hand: 3 ♀♀ ( ADSH59504 ) .

Diagnosis. Males of H. pantherina are similar to the males of H. lingxianensis as both have very long anterior arm of tegular apophysis and a hook-like embolus, but can be distinguished from the latter by anteriorly oriented distal part of anterior arm of tegular apophysis (vs. retrolaterally oriented in H. lingxianensis ) and broad conductor (vs. narrow in H. lingxianensis ) (compare Figs 28A–D , 29A–C with Wang et al. 2015: fig. 5A–B). Females of H. pantherina are similar to the females of H. loundesi as both share spermathecal stalks with broad proximal and narrow distal parts, but can be separated from the latter by less developed median epigynal plate (vs. well-developed in H. loundesi ), vulva with lateral pockets accommodating spermathecal stalks (vs. absent in H. loundesi ) and oval spermathecae (vs. globular in H. loundesi ) (compare Figs 28F , 29D–E with Figs 17E , 18A–B ).

Supplementary description. Male in ethanol (ADSH59502; Fig. 27A–D ). Carapace medially pale brownish, with paired lateral longitudinal white stripes extending along the entire length of carapace, medially clothed with fine black appressed setae; thoracic part laterally black. Eye region, clypeus, chelicerae, endites, labium brownish; sternum, spinnerets pale brownish; dorsum of opisthosoma brownish, anterolaterally with short, narrow longitudinal white bands and longitudinal rows of small white spots followed by two pairs of broad yellowish patches and a median longitudinal row of four broad yellowish patches arranged in decreasing order of size ( Fig. 27A ); venter and sides straw coloured, with small chalk-white spots on venter; leg and pedipalp segments pale brownish to brownish with black patches and annulations. Thoracic fovea reddish brown, long (0.61), straight, longitudinal ( Fig. 27A ). Cheliceral inner and outer surfaces with stridulatory files; promargin provided with a series of long setae with bend tips, pro- and retromargins with three teeth ( Fig. 27C ). Sternum provided with scattered greyish black setae, with a broad median longitudinal black band ( Fig. 27B ). Opisthosoma elongate-ovoid, hirsute, cardiac area marked with a brownish patch ( Fig. 27A ). Spinnerets hirsute ( Fig. 27D ). Legs long, slender, hirsute, spinose; metatarsi I–II with distal and all tarsi with complete scopulae, all well-developed. Body length 12.03. Carapace 5.61 long, 4.28 wide. Opisthosoma 6.42 long, 2.84 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.21, AME 0.27, PLE 0.29, PME 0.43; AME–ALE 0.07, AME–AME 0.06, AME–PME 0.14, PLE–PLE 1.02, PME–PLE 1.04, PME–PME 0.27. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.32, at ALEs 0.31. Length of chelicerae 2.77. Measurements of pedipalp and legs: pedipalp 7.97 [2.81, 1.33, 1.68, 2.15], I 23.38 [5.93, 2.53, 5.09, 6.42, 3.41], II 22.55 [5.87, 2.50, 4.78, 6.23, 3.17], III 20.83 [5.31, 2.30, 4.29, 6.36, 2.57], IV 28.51 [6.80, 2.53, 5.98, 9.36, 3.84]. Leg formula: 4123. Spination of pedipalp: femur pld 1 do 2 rld 1, patella pld 1 do 1 rld 1, tibia spineless, tarsus/cymbium spineless; legs: femur I pld 2 do 3 rld 3, II–III pld 3 do 3 rld 3, IV pld 3 do 3 rld 1; patellae I–IV pld 1 do 2 rld 1; tibia I pl 1 pld 1 plv 3 rl 1 rld 1 rlv 3, II pl 1 pld 1 plv 2 rl 1 rlv 3, III pld 2 plv 2 do 1 rl 1 rld 1 rlv 3, IV pl 1 pld 1 plv 3 do 2 rld 2 rlv 3; metatarsus I pld 2 plv 3 rld 2 rlv 3 vt 1, II pld 3 plv 3 rld 2 rlv 3 vt 1, III pld 3 plv 3 rld 3 rlv 3 vt 1, IV pld 3 plv 3 rld 3 rlv 4 vt 1; tarsi I–IV spineless. Pedipalp ( Figs 28A–D , 29A–C ): segments hirsute; cymbium proximally wide, gradually narrowing towards apex, without apical claw-like macrosetae, distoventrally provided with bunch of long hairs with bend tips ( Fig. 28A–C ). Tegulum large, occupying more than half of the ventral side of bulb ( Figs 28A–C , 29A; T ); tegular groove less evident ventrally, with short lamellate process visible only in retrolateral view; tegular stalk not visible ( Figs 28B–C , 29A–B ; LT, TG); tegular process broad, triangular being covered by conductor ( Figs 28B , 29A ; RTP). Subtegulum small, subglobular, basoprolaterally located ( Figs 28A–B , 29A ; ST). Palea moderately broad, widely oval, moderately sclerotised ( Figs 28B–C , 29A–C ; Pa). Synembolus short, with slight curvature, arising on ventroprolateral margin of palea, with smoothly rounded tip ( Figs 28B, D , 29C ; Se). Tegular apophysis broad, medially originating, with long retrolaterally oriented anterior arm having distal part with flat, circular and narrow dorsally directed parts, with angular tip, with ventroretrolaterally directed mesal arm with round tip ( Figs 28A–B , 29A–B ; AT, MT, TA). Conductor broad, hyaline, with prolaterally oriented distal part ( Figs 28B–C , 29A–B; C ). Embolus long, thin, straight with hook-like distal curvature, concealed by distal part of tegulum, with broad embolic base, with chisel-shaped tip ( Figs 28B–D , 29A–C; E , EB).

Female in ethanol (ADSH59502; Fig. 27E–H ). Like the male, except by the following: carapace medially with a straight white stripe extending from PMEs up to rear end of thoracic fovea. Eye region, clypeus, endites, labium, sternum, spinnerets pale brownish; dorsum and sides of opisthosoma greyish black, venter creamy-white without chalk-white spots. Thoracic fovea comparatively long (1.01) ( Fig. 27E ). Dorsum of opisthosoma midlongitudinally provided with a pair of broad creamy-white patches ( Fig. 27E ), dorsum and sides provided with scattered black spots and stripes, venter laterally provided with longitudinally arranged black spots and patches. Body length 18.54. Carapace 8.45 long, 6.26 wide. Opisthosoma 10.09 long, 6.08 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.27, AME 0.34, PLE 0.42, PME 0.49; AME–ALE 0.19, AME–AME 0.25, AME–PME 0.49, PLE–PLE 1.53, PME–PLE 0.54, PME–PME 0.51. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.74, at ALEs 0.69. Length of chelicerae 3.63. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 9.92 [3.44, 1.73, 2.06, 2.69], I 25.74 [7.36, 3.43, 5.52, 5.85, 3.58], II 25.16 [7.27, 3.53, 5.23, 5.78, 3.35], III 24.33 [7.06, 3.19, 4.89, 6.36, 2.83], IV 32.97 [8.87, 3.37, 6.90, 10.01, 3.82]. Spination of palp: femur pld 1 do 4 rld 1, patella pld 1 do 2, tibia pl 1 pld 1 rld 1, tarsus pld 1 plv 2 rl 1 rlv 1; legs: tibia I pl 1 pld 1 plv 3 do 2 rl 1 rlv 3, III pl 1 pld 1 plv 3 do 2 rl 1 rld 1 rlv 1; metatarsus I pld 2 plv 3 rl 1 rld 1 rlv 3. Genitalia ( Figs 28E–G , 29D–E ): epigyne clothed in bushy setae ( Fig. 28E ), with triangular lateral plates being connected to less developed median plate ( Figs 28F , 29D ; MEP, LEP). Spermathecal stalks short, with broad proximal and narrow distal parts, proximal part being partly covered by lateral pockets ( Fig. 29E ; LP, SS). Accessory glands apparently absent. Spermathecae elongate-ovoid ( Figs 28G , 29E; S ). Fertilization ducts anteriorly directed ( Fig. 29E ; FD).

Variation. Female (n=11): body length 16.77–18.54.

Distribution. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal ( Karsch 1892; Pocock 1899, 1900; Gravely 1924; Tikader & Malhotra 1980; Gajbe 2004, 2007; Rao et al. 2005; Biswas & Raychaudhuri 2007; Sen et al. 2015; Dhali et al. 2017; Caleb 2020; present data) ( Fig. 41 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Field photographs of Hippasa spp. and their webs. A–B, F Hippasa agelenoides (Simon, 1884): A male; B female; F web. C–D, H Hippasa madraspatana Gravely, 1924: C male; D female; H web. E Hippasa pantherina Pocock, 1899, female. G web of Hippasa lycosina Pocock, 1900. Figures not to scale. Photo credits: A, F–G Pradeep M. Sankaran, B–D, H John T. D. Caleb, E, Jimmy Paul.

FIGURE 17. Hippasa loundesi Gravely, 1924, female (ADSH5950252). A habitus, dorsal view. B prosoma showing sternum, ventral view. C left chelicera, ventral view. D epigyne intact, ventral view; E same, after clearing in KOH and removing bushy setae, ventral view; F vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–B, 2 mm; C, 1 mm; D, 0.2 mm; E–F, 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 18. Hippasa loundesi Gravely, 1924, genitalia of female (ADSH5950252). A epigyne, ventral view. B vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: AG accessory gland; FD fertilization duct; LEP lateral epigynal plate; MEP median epigynal plate; S spermatheca; SS spermathecal stalk. Scale bars: A–B, 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 27. Hippasa pantherina Pocock, 1899, male (A–D) (ADSH59502) and female (E–H) (ADSH59503). A, E habitus, dorsal view. B, F prosoma showing endites, labium, sternum, ventral view. C, G left chelicera, ventral view. D, H spinnerets, ventral view. Scale bars: A–B, D–F, H, 2 mm; C, G, 1 mm.

FIGURE 28. Hippasa pantherina Pocock, 1899, male (ADSH59502) and female (ADSH59503) genitalia. A–D male left pedipalp: A prolateral view; B ventral view; C retrolateral view; D embolic division, ventral view. E–G female genitalia: E intact epigyne, ventral view; F same, after clearing in KOH and removing bushy setae, ventral view; G vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–C, E–G, 0.5 mm; D, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 29. Hippasa pantherina Pocock, 1899, male (ADSH59502) and female (ADSH59503) genitalia. A–C male left pedipalp: A ventral view; B retrolateral view; C embolic division, ventral view. D–E female genitalia: D epigyne, ventral view; E vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: AT anterior arm of tegular apophysis; C conductor; E embolus; EB embolic base; FD fertilization duct; LEP lateral epigynal plate; LT lamellate process of tegulum; MEP median epigynal plate; MT mesal arm of tegular apophysis; Pa palea; RTP retrolateral process of tegulum; S spermatheca; Se synembolus; SD sperm duct; SS spermathecal stalk; ST subtegulum; T tegulum; TA tegular apophysis; TG tegular groove. Scale bars: A–B, D–E, 0.5 mm; C, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 41. Geographic distribution records of Hippasa pantherina Pocock, 1899 in India (Pocock 1899, 1900; Gravely 1924; Tikader & Malhotra 1980; Gajbe 2004, 2007; Rao et al. 2005; Sen et al. 2015; Dhali et al. 2017; Caleb 2020; present data).